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This is 100% Mo’s fault but he’s getting raises and extensions instead of being shown the door.
As long as Cards fans keep shelling out for this, then THIS is what they are going to get.
#STLCards rotation ERA: 4.90 with .295 opponent avg (29th/30 teams)
Class-AAA rotation ERA: 5.39 with .298 opponent avg (20th/20 teams)
Class-AA rotation ERA: 4.83 with .270 opponent avg (7th/10 teams)
The top of the system, which is the part that matters, really stinks, and not just the rotations. The whole purpose of the system is to supply the MLB roster by developing talent that either comes up or is traded for what is needed. The efficacy in doing what it exists to do is the only meaningful measure of success.
With the way Montgomery has been pitching as of late I think the Redbirds will make every effort to resign him.
After all, they need starting pitching.
They could actually trade Montgomery then try to resign him in the winter like the Yankees did with Chapman in 2016.
My list of 2024 starters is at the end. And if the Cards go on a tear in July I’d likely revisit. The improved defense and rise of Hicks as closer has be remembering the 2006. If they can climb out of the hole, I could see a Montgomery/Mikolas/Flaherty/someone postseason rotation with Hicks/Helsley/less pressured Gallegos, and deep lineup as capable of a good postseason run. Unlikely, but I’m not yet ready to rule it out.
I wonder if there’s a way to get Flaherty to sign for a one-year deal (perhaps with a player option) on the premise that he’ll make more as a free agent if he has another good year. That’s one thing I explore this month. If he won’t extend, then I think you see what you can get trading him for a rental. I recall some chatter at the beginning of the year that both the Cards and Flaherty were open to talking during the year as his picture became more clear.
Does anyone have a sense of what Montgomery and Hicks would bring on the trade market? My guess is they will be too pricey for the Cards to retain. I’d think they could bring some talent, but I don’t attend closely to the cost of those deadline deals. Getting at least enough to parlay into a reliable starter whose contract they control for multiple years seems key. [I wonder if there’s a team that needs a lefty reliever. If so, I entertain offers for one of Cabrera, Romero, Matz, and Thompson)
I agree with the argument that pitching troubles have been in part due to the awful defense. Looking at next year, I see an infield of Arenado, DeJong, Gorman, and Goldy that is pretty good and improved from early this year by bringing back DeJong and Gorman’s growth. An OF of O’Neill, Edman, Noot/Carlson, which would also be a step up. Walker as DH, Donovan as supersub. That improved defense should help next year’s staff.
That gives them the following as trade chips: Herrera (I’d think he would be an attractive prospect at this point…), (Carlson or Noot…possibly dealing one this year if there’s a team that will do a trade like Bader’s last year; I’d hate to trade either of these guys. I really enjoy Noot, and I keep forgetting that Carlson is only 24…if O’Neill comes back for a solid end of year, perhaps deal him instead), Burleson, Baker, Yepez, and whatever they get from Montgomery and Hicks (and possibly LHR) trades. I think that needs to get the Cards two starting pitchers. The free agent market for starting pitchers has not been kind to the Cards, and I’d think that this season will diminish our attractiveness, increasing the cost. (Though maybe they can find a Mikolas….)
Rotation would be:
Mikolas
Flaherty
two guys acquired by trade
one of Liberatore/Matz/Hudson/Pallante/Thompson, with two of the others as 6th and 7th starters. August and September would largely be about identifying the best candidate from this set. If Flaherty won’t sign, I think they need two from this set.Graceffo and McGreevy in AAA, Hence, Hjerpe, Bedell, and Rajcic in AA as the main future near future starter prospects.
Also, Winn and either Antico or Scott (one, I bet, is the future CF) in AAA as interesting position prospects, along with any residuals from trades.
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